Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.— Saint Francis of Assisi

Sister Josene Harowicz, 80

Sister Josene Harowicz, 80, of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters Third Order Regular of St. Francis, died of natural causes Dec. 5 at JFK Medical Center, Edison.

Sister Josene had served as a preschool and pre-kindergarten teacher at St. John Vianney School, Colonia, since 1992.

Before that, Sister Josene served as principal and local minister at Christ the King School, Manville, from 1987 to 1992; and taught first grade at Holy Family School, Carteret (1976-78), and Sacred Heart School, Manville (1978-89).

She began her ministry in education as a teacher of the first, second and third grades at several Catholic schools in Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. In 1964, she was sent to Puerto Rico to serve as principal of the Bernardines’ Sacred Heart School, where she remained until 1976.

From 1979 to 1987, Sister Josene served as principal of St. Casimir School, Riverside.

Sister Josene also served as a superior, provincial councilor and catechist.

Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Josephine (Maciejczyk) Harowicz.

Sister Josene entered the Bernardine Order Aug. 11, 1953, and was in her 63rd year of religious life. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education at College Misericordia, Dallas, Pa., and a Master of Arts degree in elementary education at Villanova University, Villanova, Pa.

She is survived by her sisters, Victoria Wasley of Larksville, Pa., and Genevieve Martini of Old Forge, Pa.; and her brothers, Theodore Harowicz and John Harowicz, both of Wilkes-Barre.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 9 at St. John Vianney Church, Colonia, and Dec. 10 at Sacred Heart Convent Chapel, Reading.

Burial was at the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters’ Cemetery, Mt. Alvernia.